Matthews credits Leafs defence, goaltender Stolarz in win over Oilers

When defenceman Jake Walman tumbled hard into the end boards in the game’s third minute Saturday night, racing his former Edmonton teammate Jack Roslovic for a loose puck, it turned out to be a foreboding sign of things to come for the home team

While Walman survived the hit, the Oilers wound up crashing against the Maple Leafs — their worst game of the season before a national TV audience — with Roslovic getting credit for the game’s first goal 11 minutes later when Walman — double the pain — accidentally swept it past his goalie Tristan Jarry.

While the first one was a fluke, the rest of the night was a 7-2 beat-down against the Oilers, who came into the game 8-1-1.

Draisaitl had both Oilers goals off McDavid passes, one four-on-four, one on the power play, but that was it offensively, as usual, from a team that’s been absolutely reliant on 97 (33 points) and 29 (23 points and a league-leading 12 goals).

“It’s hard playing that team,” said Leafs’ captain Auston Matthews, noting the season start for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. “Like I said the other day, those two guys get out there with all that motion, they’re just two elite players who are great at what they do.”

“They’re always going to get their looks and their points, but the D broke up plays and Stolie (Anthony Stolarz) was great,” said Matthews, with the Leafs vibe right now through the roof after only three wins in the first nine games.

“The energy in the locker room, the environment we’re in, it’s been so much fun, so competitive, there’s the joking around, lots of chirping of one another and that emotion has carried over into the games.”

Roslovic, who also had a strong early start with the Oilers last fall after signing as a free agent, has five goals and seven assists in 13 games after joining Toronto. He’s playing on the No. 1 line with Matthews and young Easton Cowan, who set up the captain for a goal with a fantastic pass through the skates of Ryan Shea.

“We’re playing a team game and it’s fun when all four lines are rolling, there’s the offensive production and guys playing the right way. It’s deadly when you can get that, look at the best teams in the world, those are notoriously the Stanley Cup winners,” said Roslovic.

While the Oilers continue to get nothing from their bottom six stats-wise to help out Draisaitl and McDavid, the Leafs got a goal from Lou Nanne’s grandson, third-liner Vinni Lettieri, and another from fourth-line tough guy Zack MacEwen on top of the usual suspects — two from William Nylander, one from Matthews.

“Obviously enjoyed my time here and learned a lot and you always want to come back and play your game against your old team,” said Roslovic, who unfortunately watched as Walman smashed into the wall on his second shift of the night.

“I think everyone who knows me knows my intent isn’t to hurt anybody. I think our feet got tangled up. Glad to see him back out there,” said Roslovic, one of 10 new players on the Leafs. “The camaraderie is special. It’s a locker room where everybody seems to be having fun.”

Cowan, 21, had an outstanding game. He looks like a kid who has the tools to be a 60-point player. He was on the first period 2-on-1 with Roslovic with Jarry making a splendid stop, and the rebound hitting Roslovic, before Walman accidentally putting it in.

“You don’t see all the little things that he does when you only play against him a few times a year,” said Roslovic on Cowan’s play. “He’s hard on pucks, good vision, really strong defensively. He’s a star.”

No argument from Matthews.

“He’s such a smart player, really impressive. We’re seeing the evolution in his game the last few years. He’s gotten bigger, stronger, faster. His IQ has been there, his skill’s been there but he’s continued to take steps forward.” he said.

“That’s what you need from guys coming from junior, finding their way in the NHL. I love playing with him. He makes plays all over the ice. Super-easy guy to play with.”

In the end, the Leafs had the requisite full-team effort, the Oilers not so much. They managed to keep Draisaitl and McDavid under more wraps than Carolina did, but they still had four points, something ex Oiler defenceman Troy Stecher had a front-row seat for when he was in their orange and blue jersey.

“They have so many different looks, it’s hard to pre-scout them,” said Stecher. “You’re more trying to find tendencies in your own system to try and stop them. A lot of the time, they’re freewheeling, Connor and Leon. And I’ve had experience with that, playing here. Overall I thought we did a good job, limiting their looks.”

This ‘n that: The Leafs had killed off 30 straight power plays over nine games before Draisaitl got his 184th career point on the power play late in the third. He led the Oilers with seven shots … Defenceman Mattias Ekholm, who had his helmeted head hit the ice after a big hit from Carolina’s William Carrier Thursday, was in the press box, watching his first game since the 2024-2024 season. He played all 82 last season and the first 10 this year. He looked fine apart from a cut under his eye, but is likely out for at least three games with the Oilers going to Long Island to kick off a three-game trip Thursday … Goalie Devon Levi, on IR, is iffy to go on the Oilers road trip, which means Matt Tomkins will stay here as Jarry’s backup after his emergency recall from Bakersfield … The Oilers sat Ike Howard and Trent Frederic, inserting Max Jones and Filip Hallander on the fourth line as bookends to Colton Dach … The Oilers third line with rookie centre Owen Michaels between Alex Formenton and Mathieu Joseph got nothing done for the second straight game. They had no shots against the Leafs and Michaels was 1-9 in the faceoff circle. Might have to break that line up when Detroit is here Monday night … Stecher, who played a whopping 24:21, scored for the second straight game for the Leafs, beating Jarry with a bullet short-side in the second period. “I’ve always believed in myself and I know I can play at this level. Nice that the coaches have trust in me right now and they’re giving me a lot of opportunity,” said Stecher.

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